Follow UsAfter being ignored for the Ashes Down Under, England pacer and all-rounder Chris Woakes called time on his international cricket career on September 29 (Monday). Having already been ignored for ODIs and T20Is, Woakes’ best shot at playing for England was in Tests and for that too he was ignored for the away tour.
"The moment has come, and I've decided that the time is right for me to retire from international cricket. Playing for England was something I have aspired to do since I was a kid dreaming in the back garden, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have lived out those dreams,” Woakes said in a statement.
“Representing England, wearing the Three Lions and sharing the field with teammates over the last 15 years, many of whom have become lifelong friends, are things I'll look back on with the greatest pride,” added the 36-year-old.
Woakes, who made his debut at the Oval against Australia in 2013, first played for England in 2011 and represented Three Lions 217 times across all formats. He was part of England’s World Cup winning campaigns in 2019 at home in ODIs and in 2022 in Australia in T20Is.
Woakes called the two World Cup wins the biggest highlights of his career, alongside the Ashes win of 2013, where he made his debut for England in the longest format, and the 2023 Ashes at home, where he was Player of The Series.
"Making my debut in 2011 in Australia seems like yesterday, but time flies when you're having fun. Lifting two World Cups and being part of some amazing Ashes series is something I never thought was possible, and those memories and celebrations with my teammates will stay with me forever,” said the man with 396 wickets and more than 3705 runs in international cricket.
After thanking his family, Woakes made sure to mention that he would continue to play county cricket and try to secure contracts in T20 leagues. He last played white-ball cricket for England in 2023.
"To my Mum and Dad, my wife Amie and our girls Laila and Evie, thank you for your unwavering love, support and sacrifices over the years. None of this would have been possible without you,” Woakes said.
“To the fans, especially the Barmy Army, thank you for the passion, the cheers and the belief. To my coaches, teammates and everyone behind the scenes – both with England and Warwickshire – your guidance and friendship has meant the world. I look forward to continuing to play county cricket and exploring more franchise opportunities in the near future,” the right-arm pacer concluded.
Woakes played his last Test against India at the oval in a game where he batted 0 balls, but walked in to bat with a broken shoulder, showing the integrity and passion for the game that he carried. However, his efforts went in vain as England eventually lost the Test by six runs.